Rectifier.



J. E. SOUTHWICK.

RECTIFIER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27 1914.

Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

Jesse E. Souihuu'ck,

"av d-memes J. E. SOUTHWICK.

RECTIFIER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21. m4.

l,177,54.8. Patented Mar. 28,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l/Witnesses v 553 SOZltblll l Ck,

utter/mu;

.rn-ssn n. SOUTEWIQK, or air-Laurie, rows...

Specification of Letters Eatent.

mun

Patented Mar. 28, llfillti.

Application filed may 27, 191%. Serial Ilc. 841,328.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jnssn E. Sournwrcn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlantic, in the county of Cass and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rectifiers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates us improvements in alternating current rectifiers or converters and has particular application to a device of the class described ior changing the alternating current of a magneto to a. direct current.

In carrying outthe present invention, it is my purpose to provide a converter de signed especially for use in conjunction with alternating current magnetos and whereby the alternating positive and negative cur rents will be fed through a transmission circuit in one-direction only. 1

It is also my purpose to provide a converter which will be in the nature of a combined rectifier and automatic switch so that the circuit will be automatically closed when the armature of the magneto has reached apredetermined speed.

With the above and other objects inyiew, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement oi parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the claim.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure l is a view in elevation of a rectifier constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view there through. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the drum of the converter. Fig. 4i is a View in elevation of one of the plates forming the drum. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the various circuit connections and the parts in the positions they occupy when the alternator is feeding a negative current to the rectifier. Fig. 6 is a similar View showing the parts in the positions they occupy when a positive half wavealternation is fed to the alternator.

In the present instance my improved rectifier comprises a drum formed of an annular metallic disk 1 having a hub 2 disposed concentrically of the axis thereof and formed with laterally projecting segments 3 on the periphery thereof, and a second annular disk 4: placed in face to face contact with the disk 1 and disposed concentrically of the hub 2 of the disk 1. Projecting laterally from the periphery of the disk' l are segments 5 spaced apart and interlocking gearing and as usual has one terminal with the segments 3 on the disk 1. It will be seen that the segments 3 on the disk 1. alternate with those of the plate 5 and are insulated. therefrom as at 6, while the disks are insulated from each other by suitable insulation 7 interposed between the confronting faces of the disks and the hub '2 and wall of the opening in the disk 4 receiving such hub. Disposed concentrically of the disks 1 and 4 is a relatively wide fixed annular housing 8 secured to some suitable support and formed immediately above the segments with apertures 9, 9 in which are mounted insulating bushings carrying brushes 10, 10. These brushes are arranged in parallel planes and spaced apart'a distance equal to the length of each segment. Disposed Within the housing 8 adjacent to one side of the drum is an annulus 11 formed of some suitableinsulating material and carrying a collector ring disposed concentrically of the axis of the disk, While fastened to the outer face of the disk 4 and electricelly connected therewith is a plate 13 equipped with an outwardly projecting collar 14 arranged concentrically of the axis of the disk and disposed within the, collector ring 12. Formed on the periphery of the collar'l are pivot cars 15, 15 spaced apart and pivotally mounted within the ears 15 is a switch arm 16 havin the lower end thereof bent upon itself to fibrin a shoe 17 adapted to engage the inner wall of the collector ring 1%. A coiled-contractile springl8 has one end fastened to the switch 16 and the opposite end secured to the collar 14 and acts normally to hold. the switch arm 16 against outward movement and the shoe 17 out of engagement with the collector ring 12, while fixed to the switch arm 16 is a weight 19 adapted, when the collar is rotated to swing the arm 16 outwardly under the action ofcentrifugal force and so throw the shoe 17 into engagement with the collector ring 12.

Electrically connected with the collector ring and passed through the insulating annulus 11 and the adjacent portion of the housing or casing 8 is a-terminal post 20 insulated from the housing 8 as at 21.

An alternating current magneto is indicated at 22 and in the present instance this magneto is designed for'use in conjunction with an internal combustion en inc and is connected up with 'the spark p ugs in the engine cylinders. This magneto is driven from the engine shaft through some suitable grounded upon the frame of the engine, while from the opposite terminal leads a conductor 23 connected with the terminal post of the'rectifier. T he rectifier is fixed to the engine shaft or other shaft driven therefrom and the driving connections between the magneto and the engine and the engine and the rectifier are siich that the rectifier will run in synchronism with the magneto; The transmission circuit for the direct current is indicated at and has. the terminals thereof connected wi h the brushes i0, 10.

In the operation of the magneto and rectifier, the segments 3 and 5 on the plates 1 and 4 respectively pass successively under the brushes 10, 10, while the switch blade 16 tends to swing outwardly, under the action of centrifugal force, to engage the shoe 17 with the collector ring 12. In the present instance, as a negative half wave alternation passes through the grounded side of the magneto one of the segments 3 is under the brush 10, while the adjacent segment 5 is underv the b uslnlo, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

In this position of the parts, the negative half Wave passes through the engine, the shaft upon which the rectifier is mounted, the disk 1, the respective segment 3, the brush 10, through-the transmission circuit 24', the brush 10', the respective segment 5,' the disk 4, collar 14;, switch blade 16, collec-' tor ring 12 and terminal post 20, back to the other side of the magneto. @n the other hand, when a positive half wave alternation issues from the magneto by way of the grounded side thereof, one of the segments on the disk 4- is under the brush. 10 and the adjacent segment 3 on the disk 1 under the brush 10, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6 and the. segment under the brush 10 is now negative, while that under the brush 10 is positive. Thus, the alternating current from the magneto is converted into a direct current 4 from the transmission circuit 24.

In the operation ofjthe rectifier, the switch blade 16 swings outwardly under the action of centrifugal force to engage-the shoe 17 with the collector ring 12 and so close the circuit, when the armature of the magneto has-attained a prescribed speed, determined by the tension of the spring 18. The engine shaft upon which the rectifier is mounted may operate at a greater or less speed than the armature of the magneto and by employing more or less segments the rectifier will operate in synchronism with the magn'eto. which the rectifier is connected runs at a speed twice as great as that of the magneto shaft, the number of segments on the drum of the rectifier will be equal to one half the number of poles on the magneto armature.

For instance, if the engine shaft to On the other hand, if the rectifier shaft operates at a speed one-halfttimes as great as the magneto shaft, the number of segments on the drum is practically twice the number of poles of the magneto armature.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, mode of operation and manner of employing my invention will be readily apparent. It will be seen that I have provided a rectifier whereby the alternating current of the magneto may be converted into a direct current and whereby the circuit of the magneto is automatically closed when the speed of the armature shaft has reached a predetermined point.

While I have herein shown and described one preferred. form of my invention by Way of illustration, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit" or confine myself to the precise details of construction herein described and delineated, as modification and variation may be made within the scope of the claim without departing from the spirit annular disk arranged concentrically of the I hub of the first-mentioned disk and insulated therefrom and formed with laterally projecting'segments spaced apart and interposed between the first-mentioned segments, a housing surrounding said drum, brushes carried by said housingand bearing upon said segments, an annulus of insulating material secured to the inner face of said housing concentrically of the axis of the drum and arranged at one side of the drum, a collector ring disposed within said annulus and secured thereto, a collar surrounding the axis of said drum and fastened to the drum and electrically connected to the lastmentioned plate, a switch arm pivoted to said collar and having the outer end thereof formed with a shoe adapted to ride upon said collector ring, means carried by said switch arm and responsive to the action ofcentrifugal force to swing said arm to engage the shoe with the collector ring, and an adjustable spring having one end secured to said switch arm and the tether end secured to said collar and acting to hold the switch arm normally in its innermost position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

R. P. DUNGAN, PAUL C. OTTO. 

